St Andrew's Residential Care Home Limited

We found the following examples of good practice.

People were supported to see their relatives and the provider ensured the visiting arrangements were in line with the current guidance. The provider introduced two external visiting areas that could be used as an alternative to visiting people in their bedrooms. Where people chose or required to have visitors in their bedrooms, for example where people received end of life care, the registered manager ensured they risk assessed whether the number of visitors at any given time was not compromising the safety of the people living at the home. Staff also ensured people were able to stay in touch with their families via video calls or phone calls.

There were measures in place to ensure safe visiting and these included presenting proof of a negative lateral flow device's test result and a proof of vaccination against COVID-19. Infection control procedures and the requirements to use the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) were explained to visitors on arrival and their temperature had been checked.

Staff received training in infection prevention and control and correct use of PPE and there was a stock of appropriate PPE available. Regular COVID-19 testing regime was in place for both, the people living at the service and the staff.

The registered manager praised the commitment of her team and said, "Everyone came together". They told us how the entire team remained flexible and 'pulled out all the stops' to ensure people received continuity of care throughout the pandemic.

There was a safe system of ensuring any new admissions were only possible after a confirmed negative result of the COVID-19 test was received.

The registered manager reported good support from the local health professionals as well as from the provider.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found